1915-07-06ee

The murder-suicide which happened on July 2, 1915 was a shock to all Hamiltonians.

The murder victim, Dr. Harry Williams, was one of the city’s most promising young physicians, and, although he had lived in the city but a short time, he had made many friends. At first, little was known about Hepworth Holmes, the suicide victim.

There was no need for any criminal charges or trial as the perpetrator of the crime was deceased. However, there was a requirement for a coroner’s inquest to officially rule of the cases of death in the case of each man.

The inquest was scheduled to be held during the evening of July 6, 1915. A Hamilton police official did release some information to a Herald reporter prior to the inquest:

“Was Holmes a dope fiend? The police claim not, although they acknowledge him to be addicted to the use of drugs to some extent. They incline to the belief that he was insanely jealous.

“The police have traced his movements during the forty-eight hours prior to the awful tragedy, and claim that he came from Toronto only a few hours before firing the fatal shots which cut off the lives of the two young men. In his pocket was found a post card received from a woman in Toronto. It throws no light on the case.

“The theory has been advanced by one of the physicians who attended Holmes during his dying hours that the young man was a victim of autosuggestion – hypnosis, and that his deed was either the result of ‘mental orders’ from some one as yet unknown, or the inspiration of a reason deranged by shock and strain.

“The police scorn this theory.”¹

The theory that drugs were the motive in the case was certainly deemed to be a major factor in the incident:

“That Holmes was addicted to the use of heroin is unquestioned. In severe cases of tuberculosis, heroin is used as treatment, the patient taking the drug when he feels a coughing spell coming on.

“Many tubercular patients, even after a complete recovery, persist in the dope habit. In this connection, it is interesting to note that several physicians during the past few months have complained to the police that their offices have been robbed of the drug.” ^1.1

1.1              “Williams’ Inquest : Will Be Entirely Devoid of Sensationalism Say the Police”

Hamilton Spectator.    July 5, 1915.  

¹ “Police Still Seeking Motive”

Hamilton Herald.   July 5, 1915.

Held at the Central Police Station, the empaneled jurors first heard from Dorothy Clark, whose testimony mostly repeated what had been printed in the newspapers previously:

“Holmes first called at the house on Tuesday morning. She answered the ring at the door and told the man that the doctor was our.

“ ‘Can you get in touch with him?’ Holmes asked her. She telephoned Dr. Williams and told him a man had called. Dr. Williams had very often been bothered by commercial travelers, and he asked her to inquire if the caller was a traveler. To her query, Holmes replied that he was a ‘T.B.’ from Gravenhurst. She phoned this information to the doctor and he said he would home directly. He hurried home and he and the caller entered the surgery. Some time later, Holmes left.”²

² “Probe Fails to Reveal Motive”

Hamilton Spectator.    July 6, 195.

Miss Clark did not see Holmes again until the previous Friday, shortly before 12 o’clock noon:

“He called, learned that the doctor was out and stepped inside to await the doctor’s return. Miss Clark said that she did not like the man’s appearance and had little to say to him. He pulled his chair around so that he could look out the window onto King street. He held back the curtains to get a better view and appeared very nervous and restless, blowing his nose continually.

Then she went upstairs and came back down again just as Dr. Williams entered the house. As nearly as she could recollect, Dr. Williams said: ‘Hello Abbie.’ And Holmes replied : ‘Hello, Doc.’

“Then they entered the surgery, shut the door, and Miss Clark went to the kitchen.”²

Miss Clark, in response to a question, indicated that there were no other people in the house and only one other exit from the surgery, and that was through the kitchen where she was.

About twenty minutes after the men had entered the surgery and shut the door., Miss Clark heard gunshots. She testified that sheheard six shots fired:

“She heard one distinct shot, and then several more in rapid succession.

“With her sister, Frances, she rushed to the surgery, and found both men lying on the floor. Badly frightened, she telephoned for the police, saying ‘Come quickly, someone shot someone else. She then ran to Dr. Harper’s office.”

Dr. Harper immediately left his office located just a few doors away. AS he approached, he noticed that a small crowd was gathering in front of Dr. Williams’ house.  On entering he was directed to the surgery where he found Holmes lying just inside the surgery door. Miss Clark then pointed further into the surgery room, where Dr. Harper found Dr. Williams on the floor. Checking Williams’ pulse, he knew that the doctor was dead, so he went back to Holmes who was still alive, breathing laboriously. , Hee obviously had been shot in the head.

Dr. Harper ordered that Holmes be rushed to the City Hospital. Holmes never regained consciousness and died at 8:30 p.m.

Crown Attorney Washington asked Dr. Harper if he knew Dr. Williams:

“Witness – Yes. Very well. He was the finest fellow I ever met. I never liked a man better on so short an acquaintance. He never said anything to me about any trouble. He was unmarried and about thirty-six years of age. From the position in which I found Dr. Williams’’ body, I would think he either was walking up and down or else trying to get away when shot. I would say he had been shot while his back was turned.”³

³ “Inquest Was Very Brief”

Hamilton Herald.   July 6, 1915.

As part of his very short address to the jury, the coroner said, “Holmes evidently came there prepared to kill Dr. Williams. It is not for me to find a motive. Dr. Williams was one of the finest men possible to imagine.”

The coroner’ s jury after deliberation came to the following verdict:

“We, the jury, find that Dr. Harry Williams came to his death from bullet wounds inflicted by H. H. Holmes, no motive being shown.”²

The next morning, Police Chief Whatley expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the inquest. Whatley released some information about the gun which was used. It was a Savage automatic revolver that was not purchased in Hamilton, the chief noting that only one firm in the city handled Savage firearms and that their stock tallied with the number of permits issued by the police.

Whatley took umbrage with some talk he had heard :

“A citizen, prominently connected with the case, boasted that he could buy a revolver in any store, without taking the trouble to get a permit.

“Chief Whatley challenges this statement, saying it can’t be done. The manufacturers furnish the government with a list of all firearms furnished dealers. Regularly a government inspector calls on the dealers. For every gun sold, they must produce a permit from the chief of police. Any infraction of the law means that they are prohibited from selling firearms in future.”⁴

“Chief Explains : Says Purchaser of Revolver Must Have a Permit.”

Hamilton Spectator. July 6, 1915.